United Nations (UN)’s International Day of Plant Health (IDPH) is annually observed across the globe on May 12 to create global awareness of the importance of plant health to end hunger, reduce poverty, protect biodiversity and the environment, and boost economic development.
- 12th May 2023 marks the observance of the 2nd International Day of Plant Health.
The theme of International Day of Plant Health 2023 is “Plant Health for Environmental Protection”.
The annual observance of the International Day of Plant Health is led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations(FAO), in collaboration with the International Plant Protection Convention.
Background:
i. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/76/256 on 29th March 2022 and proclaimed May 12 of every year as the International Day of Plant Health.
ii. The 1st ever International Day of Plant Health was observed on 12th May 2022.
Note:
- The day follows as a legacy of the UN’s International Year of Plant Health observed in 2020.
- The Year was extended until 1 July 2021 due to the postponement of some key initiatives caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Significance:
i. According to the UN resolution, protecting plant health is vital to the sustainable development of agriculture required to feed a growing global population by 2050.
ii. The idea for IDPH was promoted by Zambia with the help of a suggestion from its national plant protection organisation.
Importance of Plant:
i. Plants provide 98% of the oxygen humans breathe, 80% of the food consumed by people, fibres for clothes, and other lifestyle items.
ii. Plants give shelter to countless birds and other living beings.
iii. According to the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), around 40% of food crops get damaged annually due to diseases and pests.
Plant Production and Protection:
i. The Plant Production and Protection Division (NSP) supports countries in the transition to sustainable crop production systems.
ii. NSP works with countries and a broad range of partners in developing and promoting agroecological approaches to sustainable crop production that builds on ecosystem services while enhancing and protecting the underlying natural resource base.
About the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO):
Director-General- QU Dongyu
Headquarters- Rome, Italy
Establishment- 1945
